Portable reading desk



July 2, 1935. v. MJBROUN 2, 06,580

PORTABLE READI NG DE SK Filed Feb. 18, 1955 vantor. jY-Broun 7 772% Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES P TENT oFFIcE $006,580 I PORTABLE READING DESK Virginia M. Broun, Washington, D. G. A Application February 18, 1935, Serial No. 7,099

2 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful im- 5 Weight, consisting of few parts, and which at the same time is strong and durable and capable of holding heavy books and affording a stable writing desk. H r

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable desk of the above type wherein the shelf may be shifted to different heights and also to different angular positions.

A still further object of the invention is to and will in part be hereinafter more fullydisclosed.

In the drawing which shows by way of illusbers by screws or otherwise.

\ tration one embodiment of the invention-- Figure l is a perspective view showing a portable desk embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, and.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3#--3 of blocks and rest thereupon when its other side is Fig. '2.

The improved portable desk comprises end members between which is placed a shelf so that" the ends of the shelf contact with the inner faces Rods extend through the of the end members. end members beneath the shelf and by-means of screw ends serve as a means for clamping the end members firmly against the ends of the shelf. On the inner face and front side of each end member near the top is a strip which has recesses formed in the rear side thereof, and these recesses are so dimensioned as to receive the front edge portion of the shelf and serve as a support for maintaining the shelf in different slanting positions. 011 the rear side of each end member and the inner face thereof, are supporting blocks which are spaced equidistance from each other and which may be selectively used for supporting the rear edge portion of the shelf at the corners. The purpose of these supporting blocks is to facilitate the placing of the shelf at a convenient height and in a set angular position, after which the clamping means is tightened for firmly securing the end members against the shelf. At the upper end of each end member is a handle which serves as a means for lifting the portable desk.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the improved portable desk consists of two end members I and 2 which are alike in construction throughout, and therefore, a description of one will answer for the other. Between the end members and supported by the attachments thereon is a shelf 3. The end members are of suflicient width so as to provide a very stable supporting means forthe shelf. The lower end of each end member centrally thereof is cut away as indicated at 4, thus providing spaced foot portions 5, 5 which will support the portable desk against accidental tilting forward or back, when in service. Attached to the inner face of each end member is a supporting strip 6. Said strip is secured to said end members by suitable screws 1, or otherwise. The strip is cut away on the rear side thereof so as to form notches or recesses 8, 9 and In. These recesses receive and support the lower corners of the shelf when it is in various inclined positions.

At the rear edge and inner face of each of the end members is a series of blocks or projections I I, I 2 and M which are secured to the end mem- Said blocks are spaced apart to correspond with the width of the recesses in the strips on the opposite side. The upper blocks are rounded off on the tops to perwit the shelf to make better contact with said' in'the lowest recesses. The corner above the lowest recess in each strip is also rounded off to permit the shelf to be placed so as to reach and rest upon the upper blocks. I I

The shelf is provided at the lower edge thereof f with a strip [5 which extends above the shelf and' to within afew inches of the ends thereof, andservesas a rest for a book or any other reading matter placed thereon. The shelf edges extending beyond the ends of the strip are rounded to fit into the recesses. In order to secure the end members and the shelf in assembled position, clamping rods [6 and I! are provided. As shown in the drawing, the clamping rod l6 extends through holes formed in and extending through the end members and the strip 6. These holes are formed through the strip immediately below the recesses therein. As shown, there are three of these holes and they are indicated at l8, I9 and 20. There is only one rod "5 and it may be placed in any one of these holes. The rod H at the rear side of the end members may be placed in either the holes 2|, passing through the lowermost blocks and the end members, or the holes 22, passing through the uppermost blocks and. the end members. One end of each rod is provided with a head 23 which may be formed integral therewith or threaded thereon. The head is provided with wing members whereby it may be grasped and the rod held from turning. The

other end of the rod is threaded and receives a nut 24 which may be turned on the rod for clamping the end members against the ends of the shelf. Washers may be placed under the heads of the rods, and also under the nuts on the face of the end members to protect the same.

When it is desired to shift the shelf to a different set position, the nuts 24 are loosened and then the shelf may be withdrawn from the recesses and from between the blocks atthe rear sides of the end members and inserted, if; desired, between another pair of blocks for changing the height or the angle of the shelf. It may be placed between any selected pair of blocks and in any selected recesses.

of the end members against the, shelf willibje more nearly in line with the shelf and a firmer and.

more rigid connection made.

'Ihe-recesses in the, strip Bare preferably inf.

clinedso as to make a more-stable restforthe shelf in its inclined set position, The upper faces of, the blocks are preferably so shaped and-positioned that the shelf when set atdifferent heights;

will have the same inclination, and will restfirmlyr on the surfaces provided at both sidesofthe end members. In Fig. 3 of the drawing, for the. purpose of illustration, the shelf is Shown in broken lines as adjustedto different heights, and. It

in each position has the same inclination. is understood, however, that it may be adjusted to other angular positionsthan those shown, and-1 that the strip may be provided with additional recesses, and additional blocks maybe used, if desired. Furthermore, the shelf, if desired, may be'placed on top of the strip 6 and thev upper block l4; so that it is substantially flush-with.- the upper ends of the end members I and 2, and

when in this position, it may be used asa bedside table. After the shelf has been properly posi-.

tioned, then the nuts 24 will be turned on the threadedends of the rods. until the end members are firmly'clamped against the ends of. theshelf At the upper end of each. end memberv is a;

handle which may be of any desired construc- It is preferableitathe rods so as to position them directly beneath the shelf in any set position, so that'the clamping tion. These handles are indicated at 25. While it is preferred to make the parts of the reading desk of wood, because it is light, it is understood that any or all of the parts may be made of other material, if desired.

When it is desired to store the portable desk, all that is necessary is to remove the nuts and the rods I6 and I! may be withdrawn. This separates the end members from the shelf and provides three sections, which may be readily stored fiat, one on the other. Likewise, the parts may be quickly assembled for use.

It. will be noted that the rods which clamp the end members to the shelf are disposed directly beneath. the shelf, and there is, therefore, no obstruction which will prevent the placing of the portable desk close to the reader so as to hold the-heavy books or writing pad directly over the lap.

It is obvious that minor changes in the detailsof construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spiritof. the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.-

l. A portable reading desk comprising two upright end members, a shelf extending from one end member to the other and contacting with the inner faces. thereof, rods extending through said end members and serving to clamp the end members. against the ends of the shelf, a supporting strip at the front edge and inner face of each end member having recesses adapted to receive and support the front edges of the shelf in various adjusted positions, and a series of projections at the rear edges and inner faces of said end members on which the shelf is adapted to rest in its various adjusted positions.

. 2. A portablevreading desk comprising two upright end;members, a shelf extending from one,

end member to the other and contacting with the inner faces thereof supporting devices at the front and rear edges of said end members on Y which said shelf may rest in various adjusted positions, rods extending through said end memhere at the frontand rear sides thereof and servingv to clamp the end members against the ends of. the shelf, and handles attached tothe end members whereby said desk may be easily moved.

VIRGINIA M. BROUN. 

